Stacy Lloyd Brown - Rhubarb Pie
Self-Released
Released July 24th, 2023
Rhubarb Pie feels like dreaming about a house you used to live in. Released on July 24th, Stacy Lloyd Brown’s new record features country inspired ballads and upbeat folk songs, strung together strategically to walk you through a slice of the artist’s life. Brown’s soft guitar playing and earthy vocals urge you to sit with the feeling of the changing seasons.
Ten years ago, Stacy Lloyd Brown spent some time in the Edmonton music scene as the front of a rock band by the name of Camembert. Nearly 10 years later the multi-instrumentalist is showcasing his skills as an artist and songwriter once again. Rhubarb Pie was recorded in a tiny home studio using hand-built equipment, and much of the record has a hushed tone, “largely due to not wanting to disturb the upstairs or downstairs neighbours.” This quiet, home-recorded vibe gives the record feeling of intimacy.
Rhubarb Pie is a well-baked treat, opening with “Weeping Willow,” a slow intro song which touches on the sorrow of going through a change, and ending with “Turn the Record Over,” encouraging the listener to reflect, and listen again.
The songs that sit between Brown’s intro and outro are rich and sweet. The album is strewn with metaphors which draw reference to domesticity and relationships. “Bright Red Apple” brings a brighter melody accompanied by subtly dark lyrics which you might not notice on a first listen, drawing to mind Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Alone Again (Naturally).” The song features metaphors about gardens, referencing misery in a way that’s accessible and playful. “Fangs of Fortune” draws you into the kitchen, holding a very strong sense of nostalgia and longing. Brown’s soft vocals over a repeating chord progression are complimented by samples of cooking and church bells.
Brown was born and raised in Grand Prairie, AB, and his prairie roots show through in Rhubarb Pie. The artist’s songs conjure memories of highway drives, country radio, and wheat fields, and they are complimented well by a chorus of crickets. I would recommend a listen to anyone going through a change or needing a moment of peace.
- Kyra Heneghan-Smith
